[simpits-tech] Falcon multiple monitor support workaround

[Ben JONES]

If you are going to use a ir tracker to generate a key press when you look in a direction at a specific momitor to get the compputer to unfreeze the pic and display the real time pics, ..... why can you some how trigger each screen to display the real tome pics maybee 5 times a second then this would create a " auto updated pic on every screen regardless of where you looked.... 

maybee a ir head set on a rotating ball above the canopy spinning around a light speed would provide a high enough refresh rate to update all the screens quicker than tyou could see with the naked eye

just a extension of your thought

regards
ben
bjones at pipecomp.com.au

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Inventmd at aol.com 
  To: simpits-tech at simpits.org 
  Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 8:44 AM
  Subject: [simpits-tech] Falcon multiple monitor support workaround


  I just wanted to run this solution for multiple monitor support by y'all to see if this is something that is worth designing.

   

  Specifically, for Falcon, the problem is that the software 4.0 does not allow for multiple monitor support at this time.

   

  Of course using the trackerIR device and a head mounted goggle and the 3-D cockpit, one can use that to slew around and see everything. Unfortunately, then you can't see anything in your beautiful cockpit

   

  It should be possible to use something like trackerIR to generate keypresses of the arrow key (view key) for every certain number of degrees of  head movement.  Falcon has the forward view (12 o'clock), left 45 degree (10:30), left 90 degree(9:00), left 135 degrees (7:30), each of which is accessed by a left arrow key press.

   

  Let us, for the sake of argument say we have six LCD monitors arranged as follows:  One monitor at 12 o'clock, 1:30, 3:00, 9:00, 10:30 and one directly overhead.  All these monitors are connected to some connection type device that we have yet to invent.

   

  All the monitors are connected through this device to only one computer.  This saves expenses on the number of computers you need to buy and saves on network overhead.  Only one monitor is actively displaying what the computer shows.  All the other monitors freeze frame the very last frame it saw when hibernating in an inactive state.  The active monitor is selected by either the keypresses generated by pilot head movement using the tracker system or some other way of determining where the pilot is looking.  (Using some sort of headmounted laser pointer device for instance).

   

  So, while in use, the monitor that is the center of the pilot's attention is active.  All the other monitors are in a freeze frame state showing the appropriate position view for its position in space.  For instance, the 9:00 monitor will always show the 9:00 view because it can only be activated when the head is turned to look at the 9:00 monitor.  When the pilot looks away, the monitor then freezes on the last frame which is still in the 9:00 view and the next monitor at 10:30 takes over the viewing.  The idea is that although the peripheral monitors don't need to contribute lots of data while we are concentrating on the monitor that we are looking at, for full visual stimulation will give a more immersive sensation of being in the cockpit.

   

  If the freeze frame idea is too hard to accomplish, then perhaps the monitors can be programmed to always show a predetermined picture when it is in the idle state of a generic 9:00 view or 3:00 view depending on which monitor that is.

   

  I imagine the trackerIR technology cannot be terribly expensive since it can be done with optical mice for under 10 bucks.

   

  Anyone have the know how and gumption?



  Thanks



  John Li




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